Improving the innovation capability of Blackberry Assignment

Improving the innovation capability of Blackberry - Assignment Example This Canadian company decided to change its name to Blackberry as consumers were having a difficult time correlating the Blackberry name with Research in Motion. This trading name gives the Blackberry device a solid brand image associated with the company and its core values, which was a positive marketing decision made by the organisation. Between 2000 and 2007, Research in Motion had been the foremost pioneer in smartphone technology, being a pioneer in the technology industry. The market, at the time, did not provide consumers with a variety of options when it came to evolving mobile phone technology and, upon the launch of the Blackberry Pearl 8100, it was the only company that had a comparable offering, thus setting the product category for the industry. It was not until today’s leaders in smartphone technologies, such as Apple and Samsung, launched their first smartphone versions in the retail market that Blackberry began to quickly lose market share and also their reput ation for being an untouchable innovator in the industry. This essay describes how innovation is managed at Blackberry, how innovation projects are managed and carried out along the existing business model, and how culture supports or hinders innovation production at the firm. Findings are supported by both secondary and primary data, including an Internet chat interview with a representative from Blackberry, Christophe Lefort, general manager of Blackberry in France who agreed to participate in a 20 minute online interview. Strategy Unfortunately, Blackberry does not publicise its internal operational strategies and innovation efforts as this would deplete its publicized competitive advantages for a struggling organisation. In 2002, at the height of the business’ pinnacle as an innovator, the company experienced explosive sales volumes of its earliest Blackberry devices. By 2008, the company had become a cost leader, having launched multiple versions of the widely-accepted B lackberry device whilst reducing operating expenses, boasting a stock price of over $144 (Yahoo! Finance 2013). However, it quickly became apparent that Apple and Samsung, in 2008, had produced much more innovative smartphone devices, thus both companies seizing market share from Research in Motion and quickly gaining brand loyalty. By 2012, stock valuation in Research in Motion was less than $8 per share as the company struggled enormously to regain its footing as a pioneering leader. With a highly leveraged business model coupled with consumers that were quickly becoming entranced with the innovative technologies offered by Apple, Blackberry nearly approached bankruptcy. Therefore, the new business, Blackberry, would find considerable competitive danger by publicizing its internal efforts at innovation and strategy. It was just recently, in 2013, that Blackberry launched its latest Blackberry smartphone model which did find success in its target markets, thus providing the capital required for Blackberry to continue operating, to persevere as a publicly traded company, and determine the next innovation to save the company’s future. Having identified these limitations in available research, the current strategy for innovation as a survival methodology and to regain positive brand reputation can be explored, with assistance from the interview respondent. Prior to 2008, no representatives at then Research and Motion believed that they would lose their innovative competitive edge. Even industry experts believed that RIM would maintain its leadership position in the smartphone industry indefinitely which continued to push its stock prices ever higher with each news release about impending product developments. Essentially, Research in Motion

Women Consumers, Lifestyle Trends and the Red Experience Essay

Women Consumers, Lifestyle Trends and the Red Experience - Essay Example Red production team realized that their target group was mostly women in established careers and with children and therefore they have high demands due to their roles. Stevens, Maclaran and Brown (2003, p. 37) explains that since this group had little time for themselves, the marketing strategy of Red was emphasizing the experience and indulgence of reading the magazine. The campaign also stressed on the value of having time for oneself and coined the slogan ‘Red Time is Me Time’ as described by (Rainey, Kelly, Campbell, Roalfe/Y&R 1999). EMAP Elan Annual Report (2000) note that Red was successful in capturing the new market with its circulation increasing by 12 % in 2001 to 174,000 copies per month. Its TV advertisement is composed of three short commercials ‘Defining Moments’, ‘Me Time’ and ‘The Strip’. Stevens, Maclaran and Brown (2003, p. 36) observe that the Defining Moment was intended to capture the attention of women while t he other two pieces of advertisement brought out the fact that reading the magazine brings a pleasurable feeling. Stern (2000, p. 58) argues that the method used in the Red Magazine Campaign stressed on the experimental dimensions of reading the magazine and the gratification of self-indulgence. There is increased use of experimental appeals in marketing where the target market is invited to have a personal experience in the use of a certain product. O’Donohoe (2002, p. 103) argues that from the beginning, modern marketing relies on gender to understand and describe consumers and their trends. Kerwin (2000) asserted that the new strategy in marketing of women’s products is simplicity. In perfume market, there are so many products and understanding the attitudes and lifestyle of the target group determines ones success in capturing the market. Stevens and Maclaran (2007, 36) describe the marketing of Touch of Pink which is a new fragrance produced by Lacoste. Â  The advertisement features a young beautiful woman with blonde hair wearing a short pink dress. Stevens and Maclaran (2007, 36) further notes that the advertisement points that the perfume is for genuine and spontaneous women with true zest for life. In the advertisement, the perfume is described as fre sh, intriguing, floral and fruity fragrance. Stevens and Maclaran (2007, 36) argue that this campaign centers on femininity as both joyous and energetic.

What impact has the war on drugs had on women Essay

What impact has the war on drugs had on women - Essay Example This essay would further analyze the impact of the war on drugs on women in this century (Solovitch 2006 & Bloom et al 2004). Figures taken from Women’s Prison Association showed an increase of 592 percent cases of women jailed for abusing drugs from the year 1977 to 2001 (Solovitch 2006). This shows a dramatic increase in the number of women jailed and the impact of the new legislative policies regarding drugs on the women. It is noted that women are the ones who are suffering the most at the hands of the war on drugs. An example of pregnant women can be considered here as when legislations were introduced it was seen that women who were using drugs were snatched of their parenting rights and were not allowed to bear the child (Bloom et al 2004). The pregnant women are at times even referred to child welfare authorities and in some states it is noticed that these women are sentenced to death. Not only this, the whole system of rehabilitation has also largely been only made to suit the male population living in this world. The women who are affected by drug abuse are not even given proper treatment when they are caught and yet again have to suffer because of the so called war on drugs (Solovitch 2006). In conclusion it can be said that although the number of men imprisoned for drug abuse are still higher than the women imprisoned for drug abused but even then the women are suffering the most from the new legislations. It is seen that many of the rights of these women are snatched without even being provided with their basic rights. Rehabilitation centers are specially made in line with the requirements of men and not women and that is why the women are not fully able to cure themselves from this problem. But on the contrary it can also be said that because of this war many women tend to avoid getting into the drug business as they are afraid of being punished and this seems like an

Vietnam War and America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Vietnam War and America - Essay Example Was the Vietnam War a design politique of the US Government? Was it really a mistake on the part of US? Was it a ‘design’ and ‘mistake’ both? These are the questions we must consider. It will be interesting to quote noted political scientist and the author of Politics Among Nations Hans J. Morgenthau from his article in New York Times Magazine and web publication here: The address President Johnson delivered on April 7, 1965 at Johns Hopkins University is important for two reasons. On the one hand, the President has shown for the first time a way out of the impasse in which we find ourselves in Vietnam. By agreeing to negotiations without preconditions he has opened the door to negotiations which those preconditions had made impossible from the outset. By proposing a project for the economic development of Southeast Asia—with North Vietnam a beneficiary and the Soviet Union a supporter—he has implicitly recognized the variety of national interests in the communist world and the need for varied American responses tailored to those interests. By asking â€Å"that the people of South Vietnam be allowed to guide their own country in their own way.† he has left all possibilities open for future evolution of relations between North and South Vietnam. On the other hand, the President reiterated the intellectual assumptions and policy proposals which brought us to an impasse and which make it impossible to extricate ourselves. The President has linked our involvement in Vietnam with our war of independence and has proclaimed the freedom of all nations as the goal of our foreign policy. He has started from the assumption that there are two Vietnamese nations, one of which has attacked the other, and he sees that attack as an integral part of unlimited Chinese aggression. Consistent with this assumption, the President is willing to negotiate with China and North Vietnam but not with the Viet Cong. Yet we cannot have it both ways. We cannot at the same time embrace these false assumptions and pursue new sound policies. Thus we are faced with a real dilemma. This dilemma is by no means of the President's making. We are militarily engaged in Vietnam by virtue of a basic principle of our foreign policy that was implicit in the Truman Doctrine of 1947 and was put into practice by John Foster Dulles from 1954 onward. This principle is the military containment of Communism. Containment had its

Time Management for the Adult Learner Research Paper

Time Management for the Adult Learner - Research Paper Example Before actually getting enrolled in a course, the adult learner needs to layout reasons as to why or why not there is a need to go back to the university. For regular students, this task may not seem to be of any difficulty at all. For the adult learner, giving up receiving paychecks on a regular basis to earn a degree is a challenging dilemma. Though the degree would give them a better shot for a promotion at work and in getting more digits on the paychecks, the whole course would cost a lot and would add up to the monthly bills waiting to be settled on a regular basis (KeyOrganization.Com, 2011). The dilemma goes on with regards to weighing paychecks that are currently being received with the diploma which is still a goal to be achieved. Even with the better opportunity that lies ahead once the diploma is received, would it be worth it to sacrifice the instability of not earning enough to support the cost of living at present? Though there are scholarships that are being offered, the hours spent at the university could be spent at work to earn additional amount of money (Zupek, 2009). There are companies who may consider employees who are working part-time due to the fact that as the employee is enrolled at a course. However, there are also establishments that have particular needs with regards to working hours and most of the time could not make any special arrangements to accommodate adult learners who are employed under their firm. If the latter situation applies in the firm an adult learner is employed, therefore the student would need to give up the career and look for another that can accommodate school hours (Zuperk, 2009). This factor is just the start of a number of dilemmas that the aspiring adult learner needs to arrange before the actual learning experience in a school environment. It is a totally different story once the actual education experience takes place. Once the adult learner enters the university, there is

PGCE- Primary Teaching Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

PGCE- Primary Teaching - Personal Statement Example addition to my vocational qualifications in advertising, PR and Media, I would make to the position a proven ability to deal successfully and tactfully with children and colleagues. Although my course does not involve a subject in the national curriculum, I still possess a basis for primary teaching. Throughout my course, I have had to write advertisements and participate in field practical that have enhanced my communication skills. I can replicate this training in a classroom setting to capture children’s attention and have them respond appropriately. The nature of my advertising, PR and Media degree course has prepared me adequately for this position as there are areas that aid my understanding people’s thought processes when presented with information. Media training and advertisement has helped me understand the mechanics of communicating with wide and varied age groups. The learned PR skills will come handy in understanding children and develop strategies to aid learning. In addition to my strong theoretical basis for the course, I obtained practical experience for teaching. While on a three-week placement abroad, I observed that a teachers approach to the class has a far reaching effect on the learner’s ability. For example, a teacher often changed the ways he taught a class to maintain the interest of the children in those activities. She encouraged and celebrated children who were experiencing difficulties in certain activities. The motivation spurred them to try harder, and they succeeded in many cases. Her positive attitude reflected in children, giving them confidence in themselves hence an active learning environment. I had the opportunity to guide the class in story telling which preceded an ICT lesson that would require class discussions. It was evident that some children are happy to participate in this environment while others were not quite as keen. It is, therefore, imperative that teaching practitioners design strategies that would

TUFS Value Proposition Essay Example for Free

TUFS Value Proposition Essay The Technical Underwriting Financial System (TUFS) (McKeen Smith, 2012), like any Information Technology (IT) project requires a value assessment. This value assessment is intended to help business leaders weigh the possible benefits and risks associated with the project. In the case of TUFS, some of the anticipated benefits included financial savings through improved efficiency and e-business capabilities. As noted in the case, the company had not made use of the e-business feature two years after it was released. This may point to an IT failure, but it may be as likely that a communication failure among those responsible for defining company strategy produced the unused feature. The anticipated benefits represent expectations, which in this case don’t appear to have been clearly defined by IT or their business counterparts. It may be of more interest in this case to ask how the project fit into the company strategy. One reason this is important is that the expectations (benefits) mentioned are tactical in nature. In other words, improved efficiency and e-business may be good business tactics, but in the absence of a clear strategy, it’s difficult to say how these features would give the company an advantage . External Investment and Commitment IT projects require buy-in from stakeholders. There are several reasons to get buy-in before starting an IT project, some of which include investment during development and commitment to transition away from old processes to the new system upon completion. Unilateral IT projects often lack the level of investment and commitment required for a successful IT project. This becomes even more critical as the scope and size of the project increases. The TUFS project had low stakeholder involvement in the beginning and early stakeholder abandonment when issues arose. In IT projects, there is a risk of going to one of two extremes: analysis paralysis or inadequate requirements planning. In some projects, the analysis phase can reach a point  at which no work is getting done and stakeholders are moving away from consensus rather than toward it. This situation may signal a project that’s poorly aligned with company strategy or even a faulty strategy. For example, a strategy may be to improve the reception of new products by targeting tighter integration between sales and research and development (RD) organizations. In such a scenario it could be plausible to devise an IT project that would synchronize the efforts of sales and RD. However, with two very different groups, salespeople and engineers, consensus may be difficult to reach. In this case, the lack of consensus may be a good sign that either a modified strategy or a different tactical approach would be preferable to pursuing the project. The alternative of inadequate requirements planning may indicate a lack of strategy altogether. Projects that lack careful requirements are often conceived and executed unilaterally. This presents significant risks when original time lines require modification. There are other risks associated with adoption and adaptation. Failure to view the system as a whole, which must include training, support and feedback mechanisms, may be another indication that the project is being pursued unilaterally or that analysis is failing to  achieve consensus. When there is lack of investment and commitment, the safest, although sometimes frustrating, course of action is to pause the IT project and return to strategy discussions for better alignment with all stakeholders. Monolithic, All or Nothing Systems Many significant IT projects have the objective of replacing systems that have been in place for years. In most cases, those systems have evolved over time to become what they are. As the business grew, so did the systems that enable that business. A significant implication of this is that the current systems in use by a company required many years and significant financial investment to become what they are. Surprisingly, many business people believe that a complete replacement of such a system is possible in a very short period of time. The amount of effort and cost involved in implementing a new system is underestimated. The required changes to existing business processes is underestimated. The amount and duration of required training is underestimated. This tendency to underestimate creates a set of unrealistic expectations, which can product tension between IT and other departments. The result is that many attempts to put a new, monolithic system in place fail. Furthermore, monolithic systems will rarely satisfy the requirements of the broad spectrum of stakeholders who have an interest in its outcome. The human tendency to view desired changes as all or nothing sometimes makes opportunities for incremental replacement of functionality difficult to sell. It is often true that there is a minimum viable product (MVP) required for an initial release of a new IT system. One factor in the success of an IT project is in accurately identifying that MVP and limiting the scope to only essential functionality. After that, continuous improvements are much lower risk and more likely to be prioritized based on actual business needs  and value. One way to approach this is to think in terms of segmented job functions rather than think monolithically. Define the intersection of job functions and allow systems to develop independent of one another with well defined interfaces between them. Role Myopia A common pitfall in IT projects relates to a narrow view of job role. This myopia of roles within a company interferes with communications and subverts accountability. When this occurs, technologists and business participants are at risk of relying on false assumptions about who is qualified and accountable for making key decisions about functionality. Narrow views of roles defeat the synergy that is desired in large projects. On the other hand, when technologists show a willingness to learn other job functions before attempting to create IT solutions for them, the outcome is often more relevant. Similarly, when individuals in key business functions take time to understand the capabilities and limitations of key technologies, the solutions they request are more likely to meet relevant needs. Define Key Success Metrics First A final observation from the case is that the postmortem discussion in which the CFO asked for the metrics that would determine success for future projects should have been discussed before the TUFS project began. A careful identification of pain points and deficiencies up front may even reveal quick and easy solutions that can be applied to existing systems. Even when quick solutions aren’t possible, this is a key step in establishing measurements for the execution of the IT project that will follow. Measurements must be able to quantify losses and gains. References McKeen, J. D., Smith, H. A. (2012). It strategy issues and practices (second ed.). Pearson.